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Norwegian Runner Sets New Record for Fastest Barefoot Half Marathon on Snow

Photo credit: YouTube/Sevald
Photo credit: YouTube/Sevald

From Men's Health

  • Norwegian runner Jonas Felde Sevaldrud has broken the world record for the fastest half marathon run barefoot on snow.

  • Sevaldrud, who is also a YouTuber and goes by the name Sevald, ran 13.1 miles in 1:44:58, breaking the previous record of 2:16:34, set by ‘The Iceman’, Wim Hof, in 2007.

Runner and YouTuber Sevald shared the highs and lows of his record-breaking run in a video, in which he credits Christopher McDougall's Born to Run as the inspiration for his barefoot adventure.

Sevald can be seen doing a 5K test run, during which he found running on the snow and ice to be less painful than expected. He then set his sights on beating Dutch extreme athlete and cold-therapy advocate Wim Hof’s barefoot half-marathon record on snow.

In the video, Sevald says, ‘My goal is not only to beat his record — I want to smash it.’ Wearing leggings, a long-sleeve running top and a beanie, Sevald followed a friend (who was wearing running shoes) for the challenge.

While his feet could handle the cold, his lack of barefoot running training took its toll as he clocked up the miles, and he stopped every 5km to see how they were faring. ‘It’s hurting quite a bit,’ he said at 16km. With 2km to go, he appeared a little more worried, saying, ‘Right now, my feet don’t feel so cold. Maybe they are so cold that they’re just numb.’

He crossed the line in 1:44:58 – a time waiting to be verified by officials at Guinness World Records as a new record. Impressive, albeit slightly bonkers, running!


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